From the Vault
Townsites
Introduction
Much like mountains and water, townsites provide insights into the changes in land use from Indigenous Peoples, miners, ranchers, and the tourism industry. The photographs of townsites show evidence of shifting landscapes in Summit County.
General View of the Town of Robinson in 1906
This image shows a general view of the town of Robinson in 1906. The town is now covered in Climax tailings ponds. The town was originally called “Ten Mile” and was a mile south of Kokomo with a population of 850 in 1881. The principal mines were owned and operated by the Robinson Consolidated Mining Company. The town had several hotels, stores of all kinds, and a large smelting and milling works.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections.
The Ute People were seasonal rounders, meaning they traveled with the seasons, living a nomadic lifestyle across Colorado and Utah. Typically the Ute’s lived in higher altitudes in the warmer months, following game and temperate weather. They constructed Wiki-ups as their homes which were quickly built during travel. Additionally, the county served as trading posts between Indigenous Peoples and local fur trappers. LaBonte’s Hole in what is now Lake Dillon was a popular trading site for fur trappers, mountain men, and Indigenous Peoples. When miners began to arrive in the late 1860’s townsites in surrounding mining areas began to appear. Transportation towns such as the Old Town of Dillon and Keystone also began to appear to support the mining economy and major railways. Ranchers and Homesteaders also built towns such as Slate Creek, to support their community. Finally, with the birth of the tourism industry, set towns and ski villages began to expand.
Tiger Company in Swan Gulch in 1947
This image shows the Tiger Company in Swan Gulch in 1947. Tiger was a company mining town with a school, post office, and store. Mining operations ceased in the early 1930s. The town had few residents after the mines closed.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections.
Summit County’s Lost Towns
Throughout its history, Summit County has seen many townsites disappear; these are the lost towns of Summit County. Many of these were mining towns that faded out as the mining economy crashed, while others were ranching and logging towns. Many of these towns, such as Parkville (1859-1882), were thriving. Sitting in Georgie Gulch near Breckenridge, in 1860, approximately 1,800 miners lived in Parkville. It held the county seat for a few months in 1861 and almost became the territorial capital. At one point, the town had a Post Office, a Mint, a hotel, two general stores, three saloons, a grand hall, a saddle and harness shop, and the first Summit County brewery: The Henery Weiss Brewery out of Pueblo. If you travel to the townsite today, you will not see any remains of Parkville.
Town of Robinson
This image shows a general view of the town of Robinson.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections.
Sts. John Townsite Overview in 1910
This image shows an overview of the town Sts. John on August 29, 1910. The town of Sts. John dates from 1867. Bear Mountain is in the background and the mill and buildings are seen in the foreground.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections; TheErwine H. Stewart Collection.
All over Summit County, history is a piece of the land; places that are now popular recreational spots were once thriving towns. Sts. John (1867-1893), Chihuahua (1880-1889), and Argentine (1885-1907) are all located along Peru Creek, a popular skiing, hiking, and off-roading recreational area. Other towns like Robinson (1879-1911) and Kokomo/Recen (1879-1965) eventually got covered by mining tailings.
Sts. John with Gray’s and Torrey’s in the Background c. 1891
This image shows Sts. Johns with Gray’s and Torrey’s in the background c. 1891. The children are unidentified. The conical building in the center is the well house and on the far right, the flume and smelter are visible.
Photograph Courtesy of the Summit Historical Society Collections; The Verna Sharp Collection.
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